MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This hard working group of humans has been creating the culture of our board! The board is working to connect with like minded, nature-based organizations focused on changing the narrative behind the hashtag #naturesowhite. They are also working on the finer points of non-profit management by finalizing our bylaws, brainstorming our beginning fundraising steps, and cataloguing the ins and outs of running a Forest School.
Join us?
We are actively seeking new board members. Folks with a background in accounting, knowledge of commercial law, who have worked in small business brokering, or experience as a small business owner are especially needed. Our organization is making an effort to maintain a diverse board and volunteers community. Everyone is encouraged to apply!
Gia Gambaro Blount, President
Parenting coach, child development professor, and parent educator with over 20 years of experience supporting thousands of families find solutions to everyday parenting challenges. She has her MA in Early Childhood Development and is a mother of two children so different from one another they have challenged her understanding of parenting theories and deepened her awareness that there is no “right” way to parent. Her notable contributions include developing a parenting curriculum for the state of California and establishing the Family Resource Center at Pasadena City College.
Mayumi Masaoka, Vice President
Mayumi is born and raised in Los Angeles and comes from a family of teachers and community organizers. She is driven by a passion for community building, diversity and education. Drawing upon her creative skills developed in the film industry's costume department, Mayumi brings a wealth of experience to her position. Her years of leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving have become invaluable assets that can be put towards the school's vision.
Mayumi spends her free time planning new adventures, volunteering at Yuma’s current elementary school and learning how to do water sports. Her child, Yuma, is a forest school alumni, and his experience there is what brings her to the board. Mayumi’s goal is to help NELA grow and thrive for years to come.
Randy Hermann, Treasurer
Erin Beck Acain
Erin Beck (she/her) is an entrepreneur and systems engineer who applies her skills to optimizing processes for large-scale programs. As Founder of Wana Family Network, she developed a cooperative childcare platform serving 30,000 families with “free babysitting!” and providing “family-forward” workplace care benefits for major universities. As a Dragon Mission Director at SpaceX, in addition to leading the control room for spacecraft operations, Erin spearheaded automation of those operations for increased reliability and sustainability. Erin loves the creative and industrious energy of LA and believes in giving back to the city that mentored her; she has served on the Boards of Sequoyah School, Innovate Pasadena, and the CSUDH Innovation Incubator, and she originated the Family Track of Glendale Tech Week. A lifelong educator, Erin has taught scuba, improv theatre, and gymnastics, and presently enjoys substitute teaching preschoolers at Northeast LA Forest School. She holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Washington University in St. Louis.
Tim McCann
Tim is a serial executive of high growth entrepreneurial companies, where his focus is creating a stable and flexible base for future growth. Like the NELA Forest School, he embraces diversity, with experience including tech, business services, real estate, and non-profit companies. Tim holds a Bachelor degree in Engineering from Dartmouth College, an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He also serves on the board of Welcome Blanket. Tim’s child, Auggie, is a forest school alumnus.
Becca Hackett-Levy, Executive Director
Becca is the executive director and founder of northeast LA Forest School. She is a long time early childhood educator and fan of all things Mother Nature.